I've stopped defending the Slate

[Cubicle23]

As a lifelong maker and tinkerer with 50+ yrs of experience , I am enthralled with the Slate ethos. Not having a bunch of systems I don't have a use-case for , simple styling, acceptable performance and range etc. is a great fit. FOR ME.
I have been trying to explain it to the "no radio" folks since I got onboard, no more. If someone is going to take time out of their life to complain and try to diminish what Slate is trying to accomplish ( on purpose), then let them.
If they don't get it, then they don't get it. The Slate was always , and by design and intent, not for everyone. If they can only see what they think are shortcomings in it then they are part of the group that the Slate is not for. It's not our job to convert them. Too many of the posts on this forum are trying to do that, and I have been guilty of it as well, no more. </end rant>

 

[Johnologue]

I've found a really good and simple explanation for the "no radio" thing, for those who are prepared to hear it and not outright trolls.

It's like a desktop computer. You get the screen and speakers separately. The desktop tower is just compute, and the Slate is just a vehicle.

If the screen on your desktop breaks, you don't consider throwing away your computer. But on something like a smartphone...other new cars are smartphones.

 

[whasupjohn]

I agree. I don’t defend Slate, but I’ll defend what I want to do with mine. Anyone else is free to do with theirs as well. If someone asks an opinion, I’ll contribute mine but I hope it’s not taken as an insult or anything negative.

And like you, if someone says “why not just get an X and it will do that” — you are right, they don’t get it and it’s probably a waste of my time.

 

[SparkYellow]

I just read the Jalopnik article on Slate about RepairPals and someone in the comments says that buying a Leaf and cutting the top off is still a better EV. Sometimes these folks put a smile on my face. 😄

Edit: I dismissed that comment too quickly and my memory got scrambled. Dude said to cut up a Leaf or remove the top of Matrix/Corolla.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I've taken to asking people what they do in their cars that requires all that extra crap. They always say something along the lines of "mostly just drive to work".
I come across plenty of people that get the Slate idea right away, because they also hate all the extra stuff. But even the people that like modern cars say that mostly what they're after is a bluetooth connection that works consistently. The rest is just extra.

The people that seem disinterested mostly just think it's really barebones, and are surprised when I tell them that it has AC and cruise control. I think that's mostly because of the way articles are written about it, but Slate does lean into what you can do with it vs what it already has.

 

[Slatester89]

You miss the point, I think.

We can love the slate and criticize its short comings too. Those things are not mutually exclusive. Plus, the criticisms indicate where Slate can improve/adapt else it becomes extinct.

If you felt the need to defend, then perhaps you saw some legitimacy in those criticism.

I have criticized Slate but I have also defended it. My defense has been against stupid and false criticisms. I will continue to do so. My criticisms have been toward the lack of basic things that should be in any striped down car/truck in 2027: a radio, power windows and power mirrors. This is 2027...no one should have to roll down a window to adjust a mirror. No one should have to have a second person adjust a side mirror so the driver can safely drive. No one should have to jump thru their a$$ to configure a soundsystem so they can hear music, news, weather, BS-talkradio.

Despite my criticisms, I'm all in. The only thing that will stop me from giving Slate my bags of money in the late Spring is if the first buyers report that it is a rolling POS.

b.

 

[19SL80s]

I just read the Jalopnik article on Slate about RepairPals and someone in the comments says that buying a Leaf and cutting the top off is still a better EV. Sometimes these folks put a smile in my face. 😄

Holy crap! The old Leaf with no thermal management for the battery? I bet that convertible top will do wonders for the aero. Fifty miles of range anyone? Just pour the mulch directly in the hole I cut in the top. 🤣 🤣 🤣

 

[Freyar]

I'm not defending on the basis of people "not getting it" but misrepresented facts, usually in the assumption of requiring dedicated internet connectivity or built in systems get a rise of of me, and privacy issues are probably the biggest thing that sets me off about other options.

I am getting tired of it though. I keep hearing the massive disregard for privacy and am starting to feel like it's no wonder we have Flock everywhere.

 

[Cubicle23]

...a radio, power windows and power mirrors. This is 2027...no one should have to roll down a window to adjust a mirror. No one should have to have a second person adjust a side mirror so the driver can safely drive. No one should have to jump thru their a$$ to configure a soundsystem so they can hear music, news, ...

You miss the point, no one should have to have a bloated entertainment stack if they don't want one, no one should have extra cost in power motors, regulators, buttons in their windows , if they don't want them. ( You can get them by the way)
You may be "all in" and I hope your experiences are great, but your argument seems to put you the grey area of the "not really for you" folks.

 

[dmon4u]

I always laugh at the people who rave, " But it has Wind up Windows ". Like that has anything to do with this as a Truck !

 

[Freyar]

My criticisms have been toward the lack of basic things that should be in any striped down car/truck in 2027: a radio, power windows and power mirrors. This is 2027...no one should have to roll down a window to adjust a mirror. No one should have to have a second person adjust a side mirror so the driver can safely drive. No one should have to jump thru their a$$ to configure a soundsystem so they can hear music, news, weather, BS-talkradio.

Why?

All of these seem like convenience and not for the purpose of moving something. If people want to add it, cool. But if I'm okay without power windows and it saves me $200, that's a useful option to me. Additionally, do we even know how side mirrors are adjusted? Haven't seen anything suggesting how that works yet, so this seems like an assumption.

On the radio front, standard radio doesn't matter to me. I can just as easily stream local radio at least in my area, and get much better options for audio via phone as is.

 

[Moe]

Ford is targeting buyers who

• are comfortable with the dealership model
• are easily upsold to in-stock higher trims
• mainly care about the monthly payments
• see subscriptions as necessary features
• are okay with only the dealership doing repair
• are okay with the car monitoring their driving
• are okay with the car even watching them
• have “nothing to hide” when their data is sold

Slate is targeting rebel buyers who

• hate the stealership model
• want to buy only features they want
• abhor subscriptions
• want the right to repair
• want physical controls
• value privacy
• want a real sub-$30,000 price

 

[mikehell]

I'm not defending on the basis of people "not getting it" but misrepresented facts, usually in the assumption of requiring dedicated internet connectivity or built in systems get a rise of of me, and privacy issues are probably the biggest thing that sets me off about other options.

I am getting tired of it though. I keep hearing the massive disregard for privacy and am starting to feel like it's no wonder we have Flock everywhere.

People complain about lack of privacy in modern automobiles. But then they stick a phone in their dash and use Google maps.

 

[Freyar]

People complain about lack of privacy in modern automobiles. But then they stick a phone in their dash and use Google maps.

At least that's a choice. I can opt to leave my phone at home, off, or use an alternative mapping option.

 

[Johnologue]

People complain about lack of privacy in modern automobiles. But then they stick a phone in their dash and use Google maps.

Fewer things spying on you is better, and you can't replace a car as easily as something like a phone. If it was "all or nothing", the answer would ALWAYS be "nothing". That's no way to privacy.